Fallen trees have caused widespread travel problems and ScotRail said “chainsaw gangs” and overhead line teams have been deployed across the rail network to remove trees and branches that caused delays and cancellations to services.

Areas affected north of the Border include Ayrshire, Edinburgh, Stirling, Perth, Partick and North Lanarkshire.

An outdoor mass planned at Falkirk Stadium to mark 100 years of Catholic education in Scotland was cancelled because of the weather.

Barbara Coupar, director of the Scottish Catholic Education Service, said: “It is with great regret that, due to storm Hector and the exceptional winds, for health and safety reasons the National Schools Mass at Falkirk stadium has been cancelled.

“We would ask schools currently travelling to return to school. Do not make your way to the stadium.”

The wind did give a boost to Britain’s electricity supply with official figures showing that in the 30 minutes before 10am on Thursday, 34.5% of Britain’s electricity came from wind – far higher than the 6% recorded on previous, calmer days.

(PA Graphics)

A much weaker weather front is due to follow after Storm Hector passes out into the North Sea.

The outlook for Saturday is similar, with the possibility of thunder while Sunday is expected to be the best day of the weekend, being drier with hazy sunshine.

Met Office meteorologist Aidan McGivern said: “The wettest weather will be out of the way but there will be some blustery showers following and with the yellow warning in force disruption is possible.

“Further spells of rain will push their way into Scotland through the night before clearer skies open out by the start of Friday.”

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